The Other Contagion

We have a three-foot-tall “soldier” on our porch, made out of flower pots, with a black hat (an upside down flower pot) and a red jacket (two flower pots making the shape of a diamond with the points cut off) and so on. You get the idea – if you don’t get the idea google it. He is part of my inheritance from my mother. A cousin made him and gave it to her many years ago. My wife dresses him seasonally. Of late, he’s been wearing bunny ears and holding a couple of colorful eggs.

While I was on my walk, I wondered if I should make a plague mask for him. I stopped for a moment, not wanting the idea to escape with all the other brilliant thoughts I have on walks that never make it home, and looked at plague masks on line. I didn’t realize, until then, that there are steam punk plague masks. Walks can be so educational for me.

When I got home, I saw that Patricia had already issued our soldier a pink, handmade cloth mask similar to the one I wear at the grocery store. He was dutifully wearing his mask and continued to have the same jaunty look in his eyes as usual. As of this writing, he continues to have his eggs and bunny ears, as well. I still might try to up-scale him to a plague mask, though. Maybe I can shape one out of Play-Doh.

I’m more worried, though, about a different sort of contagion that will result from this pandemic. I’m worried about the psychological contagion resulting from broad unemployment and our long-term quarantine. First and worst, of course, is that some children will lose parents and loved ones as a result of complications from the virus. But beyond that, surges in domestic violence and child abuse cases here in the US, rises in divorce rates in China that may indicate a rise here soon, and wide spread unemployment and an economy teetering on an historical contraction, are all direct contributors to adverse childhood experiences.

Adverse childhood experiences often have detrimental, lifelong effects on decision making. If untreated, many adults with a history of these experiences will “pass it on” to their children. So, here’s my concern: the COVID-19 virus will exacerbate multi-generational poverty, family violence, and poor educational outcomes for decades, unless we act intensely and immediately.  

I know that many organizations are making attempts to address the emotional health trauma facing customers. They have included information on their websites, first about how their program can help in their area of specialty, and also providing links to other services. This is important. Still, it’s passive. It requires the person in need to seek information.

Virginia’s child support program sent a letter, and I imagine other agencies have, too. Letters are better, because they are proactive. Reaching out to folks and saying “there’s help” is the right idea.

But more than anything, we need a full-blown campaign. Just like the “wash your hands” campaign appearing while you stream TV or play a game on your phone, we need other messages that tell people where to find help. Free help. Immediate help.

I’m assuming, I guess, that there is help, and that it’s coordinated and available. If your agency isn’t involved in working with sister agencies and community-based organizations to make that help available, then get on it. Now. Even if it’s not exactly in your sphere of influence. Even if you are still struggling to put out other fires, like a home-based workforce. Give this some resources. Take the risks. This is important.

No matter what we do, some people won’t get the message, won’t reach out. The post-pandemic need for treatment will be significant. In order for our nation and all the families and individuals that make it up to recover, they will need help. Housing, food security, health insurance, yes; and mental health treatment, educational support, and stuff I’m not smart enough to think of on my own.

Finally, gather data. Keep great records. This isn’t going to be the only time we go through this. It may be decades. Maybe a century. Or it maybe (shudder) a few years. We want to be as prepared as possible, whether it’s our generation again, or the next, we want those affected to come out even better than we will.

And that’s the most important thing. That the generations that come after us do better than we did.

In the meantime, I need to figure out how to make a plague mask out of Play-Doh. Steam punk or historically accurate? I just don’t know yet.

Be well. Wash your hands. And find a way to make everyone you come in contact with, even if only virtually, feel a little better.